Selection headache for Millers boss

30 September 2014

Defensive options increase but Smallwood misses out...

Rotherham United Manager Steve Evans will be given a welcome headache in the heart of his defence this evening as Craig Morgan returns from a one-game suspension that saw him miss Saturday’s defeat at Ipswich.

Kirk Broadfoot deputised admirably for the Millers skipper at the weekend alongside Kari Arnason who was struggling going into the game but the Millers boss is confident that the Icelandic international who has been a standout performer this campaign is fully fit going into the visit of Blackburn Rovers.

“He (Arnason) is fit and his day of rest on Sunday with a little recuperation has helped him and he’s fully ready now the day has come around after training very well (Monday).”

With Arnason not 100%, Morgan unavailable and Richard Wood a couple of weeks away from fitness, Daniel Rowe was recalled prematurely from his loan spell at Wycombe where he’d become a huge hit for Gareth Ainsworth’s men.

“Danny Rowe would have played if he’d have been needed at the weekend, that’s why we recalled him. He’s been doing very well at Wycombe Wanderers and I wouldn’t have hesitated if Kari had not come through the fitness test. It would have been a tough game for him but he’s a young man we think highly of.

“We’ve got some real quality in there, and I thought Kirk Broadfoot was outstanding in there as Craig Morgan has been, and now there’s a real decision to be made in there about who plays (tonight).”

Mark Bradley, Conor Newton and Rob Milsom continue their rehabilitation process and Evans also believes the game will come just too soon for combative midfielder Richie Smallwood who was a surprise omission for many when the teams were announced at 2pm.

“I’m told by the medical team he’ll come back into training on Thursday and he’ll be assessed then. If it’s a case of just getting him through Saturday then I’ll leave him out with the international break coming after it. I won’t risk his long-term fitness for one game because he’s an unsung hero as he was last season as well and we want him fully fit.”